Bath Iron Works’ largest union has voted to oppose a proposed 145-mile transmission line in western Maine, believing the project will eliminate local jobs. 

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local S6 voted to pass a resolution opposing Central Maine Power’s proposed New England Clean Energy Connect transmission project at its meeting on June 22 in Bath, according to a news release from the union. 

The vote follows a vote earlier this month by the United Steel Workers Maine Labor Council to oppose the project.  

 “IAMAW S6 stands with our Steelworker brothers and sisters in opposing CMP’s proposed transmission line through Western Maine,” said Mike Keenan, President of Local S6. “While this project may create some short-term construction jobs, this 145-mile high voltage line threatens many more permanent jobs in Maine’s growing renewable energy sector as well as good union jobs at the state’s power generation facilities. Given CMP’s recent billing scandal and its long history of misleading the public, we are also very skeptical of the company’s claims that the project will deliver on its claims.” 

 Local S6 is the largest union at Bath Iron Works, representing 3,600 out of 5,000 shipyard workers. 

According to the Associated Press, the transmission project aims to bring Canadian hydropower to Massachusetts, whose ratepayers would fund the project. 

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